Curtain-stretcher.



C. L. STOLP.

I CURTAIN STRETCHBR. APPLIOATION FILED MAR. s, 1908.

Patented Deo. 1, 1908.

CELESTIA L. STOLP, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

CURTAIN-STRETCIIER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 6, 1908.

Patented Dec. 1, 1908.

serial No. 419,457.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, OELESTIA L. S'roLr, a citizen of the United States, residing at Los Angeles, county of Los Angeles, and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Curtain- Stretchers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to curtain stretchers and the object of my invention is to provide a curtain stretcher which shall be strong and durable and one which will not tear the curtains as do those equipped with the usual pins, and in which the scallops or points may be properly positioned to dry instead of distorting them to reach the pins as is now necessary in stretchers having the usual stationary pins.

`A further object of my invention is to provide a curtain stretcher which may be readily and quickly adjusted and one which will maintain itself in perfect rectangular form.

A further object of my invention is to provide a curtain stretcher which may be compactly folded to occupy a small space.

The curtain stretcher embodying my invention comprises a rectangular frame formed of a pair of side members and a pair of end members. Each side and each end is composed of a pair of telescopic members provided with means for holding them in adjusted position. The sides and ends are connected at the corners by socket members which hold the device in rigid rectangular form. A plurality of rings, preferably split rings are mounted upon each of the members and each ring provided with a hook, and a needle is provided for each section upon which the edges of the curtain are threaded. After the curtain is in proper position on the needles, the needles are placed in the hooks. Suitable means are provided for suspending the device from a line or other suitable support, and a central.

brace is provided to prevent sagging of the frame.

My invention will be more readily under stood by reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and in which,

Figure l is a plan view of a curtain stretcher embodying my invention in its preferred form, Fig. 2 is a section onthe line .e-z of Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is a detail section on the line g/*y of Fig. l, Fig. 4 is a section on the line .r1- rc of Fig. 3, Fig. 5 is a detail end elevation illustrating one of the corner socket connections, Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view of one of the hook rings and Fig. 7 is a detail perspective view of one of the needles and the ring to which it is attached.

Although the device may be supported in a horizontal position in the usual manner, I prefer to suspend the same from a clothesline, hooks or other suitable supporting de` vices in which case the frame assumes a vertical position.

In the following description I shall asw sume that the device is in vertical position for the sake of lucidity, as in such case the frame will comprise an upper and a lower side member and a pair of end members.

Referring now to the drawings the upper side member comprises the tubular sections l and 2 the former of which telescopes within the latter, and the lower side member' comprises the similar telescopic sections 3 and 4. The members 1 and 3 are provided with a notched groove 5 and the end of the members 2 and 4; are provided with a spring latch 6, the notched grooves and spring latches forming ratchet connections between the sections for holding them in adjusted position.

The end members of the frame each comprise the telescopic sections 7 and 8 which are similar to the sections of the side members with the exception that they are some what shorter, and are provided with the similar ratchet connections consisting of the notched grooves 5 and the spring latches 6.

The outer ends of the sections l and 2 of the top side are each provided with an elongated socket member 9 extending upwardly and at right angles to their respective sec tions. The socket members 9 are flattened as shown clearly in Fig. 3 and the upper ends of the sections 8 of the end members are correspondingly flattened as at 10 to fit within the sockets 9. It should be noted that the socket members 9 and l() are elongated and hold the ends at right angles to the upper side, hence maintaining the frame in proper shape. The upper ends of the socket members 9 and 10 are perforated as at 11 to receive the hooks l2 by which the device is suspended on a line or from any other suitable support, the shank of the hook also serving to lock the side and end members together.

The lower ends of the sections 7 are split forming the sockets 14 to receive the ends of the lower side member. The socket 14 is somewhat flattened to prevent twisting of the lower side and the outer ends of the sections 3 and et are correspondingly fiattened forming the socket members 15. Upon the ends of the socket members 15 is a turn button 16 which is turned into the position shown' in Fig. 5 after the device is assembled locking the lower side member to the end members.

llxtending from side to side of the frame at substantially its central point is an adjustable brace consisting of the strips 17 and 1S which are slidably connected to give it proper adjustability. The lower end of the strip 18 is provided with a loop or eye 19. This is formed of a short metal strip bent into the form shown in Fig. 2 its free ends forming lugs 20 by which it is riveted as at 21 to the end of the strip 18. The lugs 2O are slightly oftset from center to prevent the strip from interfering with the curtains, and the rivet 21 forms a pivotal connection whereby the eye can be folded back against the strip when not in use. The strip 17 is provided near its upper end with means for attaching the upper side thereto. This comprises a pair of flexible members 22 and 23 riveted to the upper end of the strip 17 as at 24. The member 22 comprises a straight strip of metal and the member' 23 is of substantially the same length as the member 22, and is bent as at 25 forming a socket to receive the top side member. The upper ends of the members 22 and 23 extend beyond the side member into alinement with the ends of the sockets 9 and are provided with registering apertures 20 to receive the shank of a hook 27, similar to the hooks 12 and for a like purpose. The rivet 24 forms a pivot upon which the members 22 and 23 may turn to fold back on the strip 17 when in folded position.

28 indicate a plurality of split-rings, detachably and slidably mounted on the side and end members of the frame and each having a hook 29 formed integrally therewith. The end ring 28, adjacent to each of the corners is provided with a spring hook or clasp 30 to receive the eye 31 of a rod or needle 32. In using the device the points or scallops of the curtain are threaded upon the needles 32 after which the needles are placed in the hooks 29, the rings being slipped along the tubular members until the hooks are between the scallops. In this way there is little or no danger of tearing the curtains as with stretchers having the usual pins, and the points or scallops may be properly positioned and not distorted as is common with the frames now in general use. It is obvious that a number of needles of different lengths may be provided with each frame in order to it the same when adjusted to various sizes of curtains. The hooks 30 and 29 are made sufficiently large to accommodate a number of needles 32 to the end that a number of curtains may be stretched upon the frame at one time and independently of each other.

Having described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a curtain stretcher, a rectangular frame comprising a pair of side members and a pair of end members, each of said members being formed of telescopic sections, one of said side members being provided with elongated socket members extending at right angles thereto and the respective ends of the end members being provided with corresponding socket members, and means for connecting the other side member to the op posite ends of said end members, substantially as described.

2. In a curtain stretcher a rectangular frame comprising a pair of side members and a pair of end members, each of said members being formed of telescopic tubular sections, the inner section being provided with a longitudinal notched groove, and the outer section being provided with a spring latch to engage said groove, as and for the purpose specified.

3. In a curtain stretcher, a rectangular frame comprising a pair of tubular side members and a pair of tubular end members, socket members on the ends of said side and end members, and suspending members attached to' said socket member upon one side of said frame and serving as means to lock the respective side member and the end members together, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GELE STIA L. STOLP.

MARY E. STOLP. 

